2010 Premier League preview

Darting elite primed and ready for marathon tour

Last updated: 11th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

2010 Premier League preview

Wade: Reigning champion

Premier League Darts
WATCH all the action from the opening night live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1 from 7pm on Thursday

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The 2010 Whyte & Mackay Premier League kicks off inside the 02 Arena on Thursday, and once again every dart thrown can be watched live on Sky Sports & Sky Sports HD.

Eight of the best players on the circuit will clash over 14 league nights in what has rapidly become Britain's biggest indoor sporting event.

As well as Premier League veterans Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld, James Wade and Terry Jenkins, one debutant will also take to the oche for this season's showpiece in the form of Australian ace Simon 'Wizard of Oz' Whitlock.

Mervyn King, Ronnie Baxter and wildcard Adrian Lewis complete what looks on paper the highest-quality line-up to-date.

The format for the event remains the same as previous years with all players playing each other twice in a league format before the top in four meet in the play-offs at Wembley Arena on May 23.

15-time world champion Taylor has won four Premier League titles since the tournament's inauguration in 2005, however his unbeaten record at the event was ended last year before he relinquished the title to rival Wade.

The 02 Arena in London plays host to the opening night on Thursday February 11 as 10,000 darting fanatics descend on the Capital.

The evening includes a repeat of the 2010 World Championship final as 'The Power' and 'The Wizard of Oz' lock horns in the final match of the night.

But while that match may be the showpiece, world numbers two and three van Barneveld and Wade also meet in a fixture that almost always produces enthralling drama.

Fan-favourite 'The Rocket' Baxter returns after a two-year absence from the competition to tackle 'The Bull' Jenkins in the first match-up, with pantomime villains King and 'Jackpot' Lewis also going head-to-head.

From here the players head to 13 other packed-out venues across the UK.

Click here for the full Premier League schedule

Who will win the 2010 Premier League? Post your views on the form below...

Comments (9)

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Gary Lambert says...

I hope james wade win the premier league again he is a brilliant player he was so unlucky in the world championship can't wait to they cum to newcastle COME ON WADE!

Posted 18:39 11th February 2010

Igor Toldov says...

Taylor rumored to be unwell with a virus and a doubt for the opener against Whitlock. Well known for his mind-games is this Taylors way of having an excuse if he shows up and the Aussie beats him? If Whitlock performs like he did in the World Championship he has to be a good bet for top 4.

Posted 10:11 11th February 2010

Lee Smith says...

come on people this could be the best premier league so far,i hope baxter does well cos he from my home town BLACKPOOL good luck the rocket!!!!

Posted 01:36 11th February 2010

James Palmer says...

I personally think ronnie baxter will smash the premier league this year, he consistenly plays well and i believe that this could be his tournament, SUPER SUPER RON SUPER RONNIE BAXTER !!!

Posted 17:52 10th February 2010

Samuel Woolley says...

I think this Premier League is going to be the best yet because Adrian Lewis is playing brilliant and Phil Taylor always plays well. It will also be interesting to see if Wade is on top form or not and it will also be interesting to see which Barney turns up. If Barney plays like he did in the 2007 world final where he beat Taylor i reckon Barney could win the premier league and i cant wait to see Adrian lewis vs Phil Taylor at the nottingham arena because im going to watch the darts at the nottingham arena . Come On Barney!!!!!

Posted 16:06 10th February 2010

Simon Parish says...

Can;t wait to be at the West-Point Arena, Exeter on March 4th., The Power v Barney come onnnnnnnnn.

Posted 14:42 10th February 2010

Neil Brooks says...

Mervyn King won't win it, he has no bottle when it comes down to the big pressure games, Paul Nicholson proved that in the last comp, King twice had 2 leg advantages and then blew them. Taylor for me, he has won it 4 out of the 5 times its been played

Posted 14:25 10th February 2010

Alex James says...

Great first week of darts, will be hard to pick a winner in any game. Whitlock is in great form and Taylor is not the power he is in the shorter matches. But then again, Taylor did beat Whitlock in the final, so it should be a good match

Posted 12:11 10th February 2010

Krispy Brown says...

Mervyn King this year - he's great at the short format, he's determined, and playing well. Plus he's not scared of Taylor. Outside bet Whitlock, he's game is on fire.

Posted 21:15 9th February 2010
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